ARC members to strike over imposed quotas and new terms and conditions

For immediate release: 5 February 2014

The Association of Revenue and Customs (ARC) has informed HMRC that members will be taking industrial action on 14 February 2014.

ARC, the union representing senior managers and professionals in HMRC, recently balloted members on taking action over a new performance management system demanding fixed quotas – meaning 10% of staff fall in the bottom rating regardless of their performance – and new terms and conditions resulting in those who are promoted receiving a poorer deal.

The ballot received turnout of 48%, with nearly 60% voting for strike action and 78% voting for action short of strike such as work to rule.

ARC President Gareth Hills said:

“ARC members have been asked to strike not for money, but in pursuit of some basic principles: reducing bureaucracy so we can do our jobs, a fair performance appraisal, rewarding, not penalising, promotions; and a fair deal for professionals.

“Our members are not faceless bureaucrats, but real people striving every day to serve the Government and the public. The work they do builds schools, hospitals, libraries and playgrounds. It’s work that funds the social fabric of the UK and delivers for the nation. They deserve a fair performance system, one which allows them to do their job free from the tangle of bureaucracy.”

Notes for editors

The Association of Revenue and Customs (ARC) is a union representing senior staff in HM Revenue and Customs, including tax inspectors, accountants, lawyers, managers and other leading professionals. ARC represents members in HMRC at grade 7 and above, and also trainees in grade 7 entry schemes. It is also a section of the FDA.

The FDA is the trade union and professional body representing 19,000 of the UK’s senior civil and public servants. Our members include policy advisors, senior managers, tax inspectors, economists, statisticians, accountants, special advisers, government lawyers, diplomats, crown prosecutors and NHS managers.

The FDA (formerly the First Division Association) should be referred to simply as “The FDA” and can be described as “the senior public servants’ union”.